Suit over search-engine keywords tries new angle

By DINESH RAMDE

A lawsuit in Wisconsin is bringing a fresh challenge to the practice of paying for keywords on Google and other search engines to boost one company's link over a rival's.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:25 pm

More states add jobs, but many for temporary staff

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER

In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:15 pm

D.R. Horton sees 26 perecent spike in 4Q orders

By ALEX VEIGA

Homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc., saw new home orders spike 26 percent from a year ago in the latest quarter as buyers raced to close deals and take advantage of a federal tax credit. But a wider-than-anticipated loss fueled by write-downs sent shares tumbling 16 percent Friday.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:15 pm

Natural gas plunges 12 percent this month

By CHRIS KAHN

Natural gas prices have dropped by more than 12 percent in the past month as the country continues to sip at its energy reserves and a balmy November allowed homeowners to leave the heat off.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:10 pm

Stocks fall for 3rd day as dollar strengthens

By STEPHEN BERNARD and TIM PARADIS

The stock market lost ground for a third straight day as investors grew uneasy about a rising dollar and spiking demand for the safest government debt.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:35 pm

GE, Vivendi talks over NBC Universal stretch on

By DEBORAH YAO and GREG KELLER

A deal for Comcast Corp. to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal and create one of the most powerful media companies in the world is taking longer than expected as the current owners tussle over price.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:05 pm

ALL BUSINESS: Economics 101, by way of toy hamster

By RACHEL BECK

In a world full of economic indicators, the best one during the holiday season may prove to be a furry toy hamster.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 pm

Senate Dems moving ahead on crucial health vote

By ERICA WERNER

A wavering centrist Democrat said Friday he'd stand with Senate Democratic leaders on a crucial weekend test vote on their sweeping health care bill amid indications other moderates would fall in line.

Nov 20, 2009 | 11:25 am

Web sites cater to for-sale-by-owner home sellers

By ALEX VEIGA

Selling a home without a real estate agent can save thousands of dollars in commission fees, but it can also be a painstaking, confusing task.

Nov 20, 2009 | 11:05 am

J.M. Smucker 2nd-quarter profit soars on coffee

By SARAH SKIDMORE

J.M. Smucker Co. nearly tripled its profit in the second quarter as the addition of Folgers coffee gave a jolt to its lineup and lower commodity prices fattened its profit margins.

Nov 20, 2009 | 10:05 am

EU extends Oracle/Sun review deadline until Jan 27

European Union regulators said Friday that they have extended until Jan. 27 a deadline to wrap up their antitrust review of Oracle Corp.'s planned $7.4 billion takeover of Sun Microsystems Inc.

Nov 20, 2009 | 9:00 am

Dell's profit, stock drop on weak quarterly report

By JORDAN ROBERTSON

Some of the computer industry's biggest players _ such as IBM Corp., Intel Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. _ have wowed Wall Street this fall with stronger-than-expected profits.

Nov 20, 2009 | 8:55 am

Trichet: time to withdraw some support measures

By MICHAEL BAUER and GEORGE FREY

Although it is too early to say the crisis is over, it is time to withdraw some of the policy measures that supported the financial system through the credit crunch, the European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Friday.

Nov 20, 2009 | 8:00 am

Library group offers text search to 4.6M books

A group of major national research libraries says users now can search the full text of 1.6 billion pages from 4.6 million digitized volumes.

Nov 20, 2009 | 6:50 am

Gap profit up 25 pct in 3Q as Old Navy recovers

By ASHLEY M. HEHER

Shoppers spent more money at low-price Old Navy stores in the third quarter, helping Gap Inc.'s profit climb 25 percent compared with last year, the retailer said Thursday.

Nov 20, 2009 | 5:05 am

GM to release plan for European units in December

By GEORGE FREY

General Motors Co. said it expects to release a full restructuring plan for its Opel and Vauxhall operations in mid December, but did not specify the amount of cuts to capacity and jobs it would seek.

Nov 20, 2009 | 4:50 am

Oil moves down near $77 amid economic uncertainty

By BARRY HATTON

Oil prices edged down toward $77 a barrel on Friday after a drop in many stock markets and amid concern about the strength of the global economic recovery.

Nov 20, 2009 | 4:35 am

Sony hopes online service will build brand loyalty

By YURI KAGEYAMA

Sony's new online service connecting the whole range of its gadgets to downloadable content like movies and games should help build brand loyalty, a top executive said Friday.

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:45 am

European markets push higher ahead of Trichet

By PAN PYLAS

European stock markets rose Friday despite a drop in Asia as investors recouped some of the previous day's hefty losses ahead of a key speech from European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet.

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:30 am

Volkswagen board moves closer to Porsche merger

German carmaker Volkswagen AG said Friday its supervisory board had approved certain agreement contracts for the planned merger with German sportscar builder Porsche, taking the companies one step closer to completing the deal.

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:25 am

China raises nonresidential electricity rates

By ELAINE KURTENBACH

China raised electricity rates for businesses and industries Friday, part of a long-term effort to adjust prices to reflect costs and promote energy saving as the country struggles to meet soaring demand.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:25 am

Japan warns that deflation can drag on recovery

By MALCOLM FOSTER

Japan's government highlighted the danger of deflation for the first time in three years Friday, warning that falling prices and a further worsening of the labor market could drag on the weak recovery.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:25 am

Taiwan firm uses recycled paper in shoemaking

By ANNIE HUANG

Confronted with an ever-growing pile of old newspapers, Taiwanese fashion designer Colin Lin came up with the idea of using them to make shoes and tote bags for her environmentally friendly footwear company.

Nov 19, 2009 | 11:15 pm

S. Korean minister nixes new US trade negotiations

By KELLY OLSEN

South Korea's foreign minister ruled out Friday additional negotiations with the United States over a free trade agreement, a day after presidents of the two countries vowed cooperation to push the stalled deal forward.

Nov 19, 2009 | 11:10 pm